We here at the Natural History Museum are thrilled, because it means that this spectacular crocheted piece – created out of 4,000 contributions by over 800 participants and assembled by 88 volunteers who donated 8,500 hours of their time – will be on public view for another five years. While it’s on display, the Putnam will incorporate the reef into programs that teach thousands of school-aged visitors about the importance of ocean conservation.

Visitors viewing the Smithsonian Community Reef while it was on display at the National Museum of Natural History. Image courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

We’re excited that the important messages of the reef will reach brand new audiences at the Putnam and hope that the reef continues to inspire awe and awareness of the beauty and the fragility of coral reefs around the world. And we hope that the Smithsonian Community Reef’s many contributors and fans will go visit their old friend in Davenport.

The Smithsonian Community Reef is a satellite of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles. It was made possible by the Quiksilver Foundation, the Embassy of Australia, and the Coral Reef Alliance.